Biochemical and Neurophysiological Correlation of Centrally Acting Drugs

Section on Pharmacology of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (SEPHAR), Proceedings of the Second International Pharmacological Meeting, August 20-23, 1963, Volume 2: Biochemical and Neurophysiological Correlation of Centrally Acting Drugs focuses on the composition, reactions, and applications of centrally acting drugs. The selection first offers information on the physiology of striopallidum in relation to extrapyramidal function and disorders and actions of dopa and dopamine in relation to function of the central nervous system. Discussions focus on correlation of behavioral and clinical states with metabolism of dopamine, functions of dopamine in the brain, and the central pharmacology of dopamine. The text then examines the role of brain dopamine (3-hydroxytyramine) in Parkinsonism, including behavior of dopamine in the extrapyramidal centers in patients with Parkinson''s disease; brain dopamine and the extrapyramidal symptomatology of Parkinson''s disease; and parallelism between Parkinson''s disease and the Parkinson-like state induced by reserpine in man. The publication ponders on pharmacological studies on tremorine and metabolism of tremorine. The manuscript also takes a look at the contribution on the pathophysiology of intentional tremor; failure of Antiparkinson drugs to antagonize hypothermia in tremorine-treated rats; and significance of dopamine in psychomotor stimulant action. The selection is a dependable source of data for readers interested in centrally acting drugs.